2012 Toyota Auris — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 50,856 MOT tests, the 2012 Toyota Auris recorded an 82.2% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 21.3% of the time, so this is 3.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 15.2% of all tests — 9.3 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, rigid brake pipes and wipers — position lamp alone was recorded 3,808 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.4% in the 0-30k band and 22.0% in the 150k+ band, a 11.6-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, electric examples fail 2.8pp more often than diesel ones (19.9% vs 17.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 32.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 15.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.2% | 7,726 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.9% | 3,011 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.7% | 2,390 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.5% | 2,306 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 1,945 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.3% | 636 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 3,808 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,708 |
| 3 | Wipers | 1,693 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 1,483 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,436 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 1,352 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 32.6% | 16,554 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.3% | 12,360 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.7% | 9,531 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.1% | 5,153 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.9% | 4,012 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.9% | 3,493 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 2,006 | 10.4% |
| 30-60k | 13,326 | 13.9% |
| 60-90k | 18,644 | 18.5% |
| 90-120k | 10,256 | 20.5% |
| 120-150k | 3,759 | 21.9% |
| 150k+ | 2,863 | 22.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 28,286 | 17.3% |
| Hybrid | 12,688 | 18.3% |
| Electric | 4,305 | 19.9% |
| Other | 3,740 | 18.2% |
| Diesel | 1,837 | 17.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,036 | 15.6% |
| 2022 | 10,103 | 16.6% |
| 2023 | 10,155 | 17.5% |
| 2024 | 10,319 | 19.4% |
| 2025 | 10,243 | 20.1% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Auris
On a 2012 Auris, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.9% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (4.7% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2012 Toyota Auriss pass their MOT?
82.2% of the 50,856 2012 Toyota Auris MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Toyota Auris?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.2% of tests, followed by brakes (5.9%).
Does the 2012 Auris get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.4% in the 0-30k band to 22.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 50,856 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.